Method of applying a preservative to eggs



Sept. 17, 1935. H. B. CHRISTIAN El AL 2,014,646

METHOD OF APPLYING A PRESERVATIVE TO EGGS Filed Feb. 8, 1955 5Sheets-Sheet l INVINTORS. BY Mail)? QWWWM wig tau ATTORNE S.

I Sept. 17, 1935. H. B. CHRISVTIAN ET AL 2,014,646

METHOD OF APPLYiNG A PRESERVATIVE TO EGGS Filed Feb. 8, 1933 3Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

H. B. CHRISTIAN ET AL METHOD OF APPLYING A PRESERVATIVE TOEGGS 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 17,1935.

Filed Feb. 8, 1953 we :5. BY

Array/5Y5.

I Patented Sept. 17 1935 METHOD OF APPLYING A PRESERVATIVE T0 EGGSHerman B. Christian, Oakland, and Harry E.

Kennedy, Berkeley, Calif.; said Christian assignor to said KennedyApplication February 8, 1933, Serial No. 655,736

which may be obtained 6 Claims.

The method of processing or preserving eggs,

which is now most commonly used, is that in,

which eggs are coated with a mineral oil either by submersion orprecipitation, and then placed in cold storage.

This method is very efiicient but is fairly costly due to theconsiderable quantity of oil consumed, the labor involved, and thebreakage encountered; that is, the eggs must be carefully candied to besure that all cracked, blood-spotted and defective eggs are removed. Theeggs must be graded as to color and size. The eggs must be oil coatedand then packed and placed in cold storage, and when removed fromstorage, must be unpacked and subjected to a sand blast to remove theoil coating, and then again re-packed before delivery to the trade.

The different operations or steps described require handling of the eggsover and over again. This increases the percentage of breakage and timeand labor is proportionately increased with a considerable increase infinal cost.

The chief function of the oil coating applied to eggs is to seal thepores against evaporation, and the effectiveness of a process may bemeasured by the loss of weight during agiven period of time comparedwith eggs which have not been so treated. We have discovered that ifeggs are subjected to a blast of mineral oil so finely atomized that theoil is like a fog, that the preserving action as measured by the abovementioned criterion is just as good, if not better, than that by simpleimmersion 'of the eggs. We have further discovered the distinctadvantage, to-wit, that it is not necessary to remove the eggs from theflllers during. the processing action but merely to spray the eggs fromabove and below, the spray there is not sufiicient oil deposited on thefiller to be noticeable. The oil which is deposited on the fillerrenders it less hygroscopic so that during the period of storage thedehydration by filler material is greatly" inhibited. We have alsodiscovered that the film of oil, when deposited in thismanner, is soinfinitesimal that the undesirable gloss appearing on the eggs, whendipped or otherwise coated, is not apparent with the present method.

The object'of the present invention is to generally improve and simplifythe operation of processing or preserving eggs;j to provide a methad andapparatus for processing eggs whereby as while subjecting the eggs tohandling "and breakage of eggs is reduced to a minimum, oil consumptionmaterially reduced, and sand blasting of the eggs to remove the excessoil after the eggs are taken from storage is entirely eliminated; andfurther, method and apparatus for applying a liquid preservative, suchas oil or the like to eggs by projecting the liquid in a vaporous oratomized form against the eggs to seal the pores in the shells of theeggs.

The apparatus employed is shown by way of illustration in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of theapparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the trays upon which the eggs aresupported while the oil coatingis being applied.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section taken on line VV ofFig. 2

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a standard form of egg crate.

Fig. 7 is a cross section of the egg crate show- 25 ing it open topermit removal or insertion of the eggs.

Fig. 8 is a detail view in section showing the valve mechanism and thepipes connected with the atomizing nozzles.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of Fig. 8, showing the manner in which thevalve handle is actuated Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a modifiedform of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and par- 35 ticularly Figs. 1 and2, A indicates an elongated frame constructed of channel iron, or anyother suitable materialfthe frame being supported by vertically disposedlegs 2, or the like. Disposed at each end of the frame is a pair ofcross shafts 40 -3 and 4, these shafts being journaled in adjustablebearing members 5. Each shaft is provided with a pair of interspacedsprocket gears, indicated by dotted lines at 6, and these gears carryand support a pair of interspaced endless'sprocket 45 chains 1. Thesechains form a continuous belt, generally indicated at B, and this beltiscontinuously driven from an electric motor C through a reduction geardrive D and a belt or chain, as indicated at 8, said belt or 'chaindriving the 50 shaft 3.

The endless belt consists of the interspaced chain 1 and a plurality ofplates ortrays carried thereby, these trays being generally indicated atE. Each tray consists of a metal frame 9 conto provide a 5 surface iscovered with a wire in traveling from 1 will be projected against thestructed of sheet iron or the like. The upper mesh, as indicated at l0,and this forms a support for a layer of eggs and the filler in whichthey are supported. Thesides of the frame are channel-shaped, as shownin Fig. 3, and a bolt il passes through the center portion of eachchannel member, and is secured to a lugor similar device i3 carried byeach chain. Each egg supporting plate is thus centrally supported withrelation to the chains 1 and they are for this reason free to turn aboutthe sprocket gears 6 as they pass around the same. 1

The eggs are placed on the trays at that end of the machine which isgenerally indicated at F, and they are removed from the machine at theopposite end or that indicated at G. The eggs the receiving end to thedischarge end first pass through a housing, generally indicated at H,where a coating of oil is applied, they then pass through a housing'lwhere they are candied, and they are finally removed from the machine atthe discharge end G, as will hereinafter be described.

The manner of applying the oil, or other preservative agent ,to theeggs, is accomplished as follows: Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 8, it willbe noted that a plurality of pipes i4 and I! extend through the housingindicated at H. These pipes are placed above and below the-conveyorwhere- 'by the trays are supported, and each set 01' pipes carriesatomizing nozzles generally indicated at it and ii. The nozzles areidentical in construction and the description of one will accordinglysuflice. By referring to Fig. 8, a nozzle is shown at i6. This nozzle isin communication with a pipe i8 through which air under suitablepressure is supplied, the air being obtained from any pressure supply,such as a tank or the like, which is continuously charged by a pressureblower compressor or similar means. The air from the tank passes througha pipe i9 and on this pipe is mounted a valve 20. When the valve isopened the air passes through pipe 2| and this connects with the pipesi8 and the nozzle l8, hence giving a blast of air through the nozzle iiwhenever the valve. 20 is opened. Extending through the pipe I8 is anoil supply pipe 22. This pipe connects with a nozzle 22 mounted withinthe nozzle ii. The flow of oil through the pipe 22 and the nozzle 23 iscontrolled by a valve 200, and the oil is delivered to this valvethrough pipe 24, said pipe being connected with a source of oil supplyunder pressure or from a gravity tank as desired. The valves 20 and 20aare connected and are actuated by a common shaft 2 on the ,end of whichis secured a valve operating lever 26. When the lever assumes the fullline position shown in Fig. 9, both the air and oil valves are closedbut when a tray loaded with eggs enters the housing a pin 21 securedeither to the chain or the tray engages the valve handle, and when thehandle is swung to the dotted line position indicated at 28, both valveswill be opened and oil in a vaporous or highly atomized condition eggsboth from above and below, and when the pin 21 reaches the dotted lineposition, indicated at 29, it releases the hendie and the valve isimmediately closed by a spring 30, or similar means. Thus, each traycarrying a layer of eggs is momentarily subjected to the atomized oilprojected against the same and waste of oil is prevented, excess vapourbeing continuously removed through a pipe 3i which is connected with asuction blower or the like not shown.

passed through Any vapour which condenses and ms down the side of thehousing may be collected in a pan :2 and a drain pipe 33 connectedtherewith may r'emove the oil or return it to the source of supply ifdesired. 5

. they pass through the housing H they are momentarily subjected to theoil applied in atomized or vaporous form, and they then pass out of thehousing H into the housing I where they are candied by means of a light40 placed below the 20 conveyor, see. Fig. 5. Defective or cracked eggsmay here be removed, and when the eggs pass out of the candlinghousing'they reach the discharge point indicated at G, where operatorsremove the fillers, together with the egg contained there- 25 in, andreplace them in the egg crates; forks or similar implements beingemployed for this purpose so-that a complete filler with the eggscontained therein may be removed in one operation., The crates, whenre-iilled, are placed in cold 30 storage and are there retained untilthey are to be placed on the market.

Where eggs are handled by the processing methods now in common use, itis necessary to first remove the eggs layer by layer from the g5 cratesand to place them in baskets or plates on a conveyor 'similarto thatshown in this application, and then to remove the fillers as the eggsare either dipped or the oil is showered over the eggs as they passthrough a housing similar to that shown at H. The quantity of oilapplied is very considerable, and in order that the coating shall not betoo thick, it is customary to heat-the oil to a fairly high temperaturebut, even so, the quantity pearance oi the eggsis undesirable as theyhave a glossy oily appearance. After the eggs have this machine and havebeen coated, as described, the fillers must be replaced and the eggs arethen removed, together with the fillers, and placed in the crates. Thecrates are then placed in cold storage, and when "they are removed fromcold storage, they must again be unpacked as the oil coating must beremoved before the eggs can be marketed. To accomplish this the eggs arepassed through a sand blasting machine, and in passing through thismachine, the fillers are again removed and when they are passed throughthe machine the eggs will be replaced in the flllers, and the fillers,together with w the eggs, returned to the packing cases, and they arethen ready for the market. This method requires handling and rehandlingof the eggs over and over again. The breakage of eggs due to handlingand re-handling increases in proportion. The quantity of oil consumed isalso excessive.

By the present method re-handling of the eggs is reduced to the veryminimum, and the eggs are at no time removed from the fillers, as it isonly necessary to remove each layer of eggs, together with theirfillers, from the crates and place them on the trays of the machineshownin Figs. 1 and 2. After they are placed on the trays they pass throughthe housing E, where ablast of atomized 16 of oil applied is excessiveand the apoil is projected against the eggs, both from above and below.This blast is momentary and the quantity of oil applied is soinfinitesimally small that it does not detrimentally affect theapearance of the eggs, nor does it detrimentally ail'ect the fillers inwhich the eggs are contained; con.- versely, it reduces moistureabsorbing qualities of the fillers and to this extent reducesevaporation while the eggs are in storage. When the eggs have been oiledby the present method and reof .eggs a day. Where small quantities ofeggs are handled, an apparatus such as disclosed in Fig. 10 may bedesirable. This merely consists of a housing, such as indicated at 50, ashelf is formed in the housing, as indicated at ii, and a screen traysupporting the eggs to be oiled is pushed inwardly on the shelf. Spraynozzles, indicated at 54, are placed above and below the shelf, and apair of valves to control the spray nozzles, similar to those shown inFig. 8, are employed. A handle controlling the valves is placed adjacentthe innerwall of the housing, or at one side thereof, and this isengaged by the tray when it is inserted: Hence, as the tray is insertedand shoved into place it engages the handle and the. valves are opened,thus projecting a highly atomized or vaporous form of 011 against theeggs, both from above and below, and by merely pulling the trayoutwardly the valves are again automatically closed, thus completing theoperation. Hence, a simple form of apparatus which functions insubstantially the same manner as the larger form disclosed can beemployed with equal efliciency. If cold weather is encountered and theoil is too viscous, it is obvious that it may be passed through a heateror the like.

Mineral oil has been described as the preservative agent, but it shouldbe understood that any other liquid preservative capable of beingatomized or converted into a vaporous form may be employ and whilecertain features of the present invention are more or less specificallydescribed,

we wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within thescope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finishof the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer maydecide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is- 1. A method of preserving eggs which consists increating a zone permeated with a highly atomized oil of foglikeconsistency, and exposing the eggs thereto for a period just sufficientto permit the atomized oil to seal the pores in the shells withoutleaving any perceptible coating of oil on the shells.

2. A method of preserving eggs which consists in producing by pressureapplied to a liquid preservative, a vapor-laden area of fog-likeconsistency, and exposing the eggs thereto for a period suflicient toseal the pores in the shells without leaving a perceptible coating orpreservative on 20 the surfaces.

3. A method of preserving eggs which consists in creating a zonepermeated with a highly atomized oil of foglike consistency and exposingthe eggs contained in the customary paper filler, thereto, for a periodsufficient to seal the pores in the shells and to render the tiller lesshygroscopic.

4. A methodof preserving eggs which consists in moving a plurality ofeggs through a chamber 3 filled with highly atomized oil of fog-likeconsistency and exposing the eggs thereto for a period just sufllcientto seal the pores in the shells without leaving a perceptible coatingofoil on the surfaces. 7

5. A method of preserving eggs which consists in creating within achamber a zone permeated with highly atomized oil of fog-likeconsistency by projecting the oil under pressure from the top and thebottom-thereof, and exposing the eggs thereto for a period suflicient toseal the pores in the shells without leaving a perceptible coating ofoil on the surfaces.

6. A method of preserving eggs for cold storage which consists increating a zone of foglike vapor formed by highly atomized liquidpreservative, then passing the eggs contained in the customary paperfiller through said zone, and timing the exposure of the eggs to thevapors so that the pores in the shells will be sealed without depositingany perceptible coating of the material upon the surfaces.

HERMAN B. CHRISTIAN. HARRY E. KENNEDY.

